Sonsi FFFW White Cruise: NY Summer

Sia, Jen of Seraphim Clothing & I

After figuring out that we wouldn't be able to make it to Europe this summer, there was something that seemed to soften that blow. The thought of meeting up with fellow bloggers to party in NYC on the harbour excited me immensely. Ever since I first watched Honey Daniels all those years ago attend that deliciously cool black and white party I've always wanted to go to one (ha ha LAME I know). During my early college years I organised a black and white party for my friends; one was celebrating her 18th birthday and the other was celebrating her 21st birthday. It was a crazy night. We caught the train into the city with cases of those cheap vodka premixes....I think they were called "Voodoos" or something. We ran a muck through the city screaming our "Cheeeeeeehoooooooo" calls letting everybody know the Polynesians were out to play. But something was missing. Oh of course. NEW YORK CITY!

It's crazy to think that these Poly girls have grown up into young *coughs* ladies and that we dress in white and attend events in New York. No I'm not bragging. I'm legit just thinking "How the hell did that happen?"

Still being that proud Niuean & Australian girl that I am, I wanted to wear something that let everybody know who I am and where I'm from. My accent had the Australian heritage covered so I wore a fou-fou (a floral headpiece worn on special events or when one dances). My mother gave it to my sister and I. I also packed the other for our cousin Sia. My Mum brought them back from New Zealand after our family reunion last April. You didn't see this because I didn't post this up.

But ultimately I wanted to be comfortable and to feel pretty. At home (Australia) my hair was being good but in New York it was fizzy as hell. UGHH. Oh well. YOLOd that shit. I also wore my coconut earrings that my friend Malo got me when she went to Samoa and the bracelet I got from Ruth when she went to Samoa. I actually didn't realise this until now :) Wore my trusty Moda dress that I picked up like 3 years ago and my pearl cluster ring when I was in Broome. For the shoes I chose the comfy Rivers low-heeled sandals.

It was so weird because I had been looking forward to this event ever since I found out about it. When I arrived I met up with the Aussie girls I had been talking to on our own Facebook forum. It was nice to know some people there. It was also the first time I had caught up with Gabby and Candice since our arrival so we were all excited and had a million questions and things to catch up on.

I started to recognise many other bloggers and didn't really know to approach them. I was torn between excitement (and wanting to dance as soon as I got on the boat) and nerves. When I'm nervous I just talk too much. But I met Kellie B and Jassifer. Two bloggers whose style I admire. From then it was all sort of a blur. The boat was packed and almost impossible to mingle with everyone. I ultimately chose to hang out with my girls because I didn't want to waste a beautiful evening getting caught up trying to do 'everything' and have no real memories of the night.

Instead we danced, laughed and tried with all our might to win a door prize. I went off to find food and ended up dancing with another lady whom I met in the line outside and promised that I would dance with her when we got inside.

I met Bec (her dress was my favourite of the white party) and boogied with Olivia and pulled pretty ugly faces with Sam. I hugged Dani and chatted with Ashley and met Inez of Style Chic 360 and Sandra of La Precosa Preciosa. The overall night was not exactly what I expected, but it was still great. We had our own little after party and Pie Face so no complaints here. Check out my instragram account @mele2541 for more photos under #melenyc.

Inez of Style 360, Jen of Seraphim Clothing and my sister Theresa of He called her Siki-Lou.

The Curvy and Curly Closet, Fatshion Insider & my girls.

Curvy Sam, Plus Side of Me, Jassifer Lion's Club & Wait until the Sunset

Check my beautiful sister's post HERE. Don't these two look like mermaids?

Big Love,


Falala Mele.

NYC Summer Day 3 MOMA

Thrifted Skirt $2 / Knitted Tank Factory $5 / Converse $50 / Hat $2 Ken Done Bag $2

Hiiiii! Guys I'm so excited because I'm back and I officially have the internet at home now!!! Seriously we have spent the last year living on prepaid net that barely loaded a page. Now I have the net I'll be able to keep up to date with blogs and shows and all the important things.

So now that I'm back online I thought I'd get right back to posting up my New York trip. I'm hoping that now I have my net back on I will be more inclined to post and share with you guys. So this was day 3. We wanted to have a kick back day because we had the White Cruise that evening and we have the worst habit of going ALL DAY and leaving only about 20 minutes left to get ready.

So we decided to head off to the MOMA and soak up all the greatness that is within it's doors. I have been 2 years earlier but it was so nice to watch my cousin Sia walk around and see all the art she had studied in high school. She was like "I don't remember the names of the art but I remember the artwork and this is awesome."

I'm always excited to see Gauguin's works especially his art with strong Micronesian themes from his time spent in French Polynesia.

 

I miss this. 6 more months. 6 more months.







Big Love,

Falala Mele

NAIDOC Celebrations Nowra & Wreck Bay

This week I attended two different NAIDOC day events in the Nowra and Wreck Bay communities.

So you might be thinking What is NAIDOC Week? 
Well it's a week long celebration held to recognise the culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia. Many people (even those collectively held under the generalised term 'Australians') know little to nothing about the histories of the indigenous people of Australia.

It is a complex and delicate history and I've yet to find a textbook or school system that extensively and objectively explains and or recounts it. It's history has some similarities to other countries. Someone sets out with a purpose to find new and perhaps uninhabited land. They explore,  then claim the land and set upon changing the land and it's people to suit their needs. Indigenous Australians were misplaced, introduced to foreign diets and diseases. Some were taken from their families and put into homes, others were forbidden to speak in their language and or carry out traditional practices.

In 1965 a bus of Sydney University students travelled through NSW to expose the discrimination and living conditions of Aboriginal people. After this the"Assimilation policy is changed to that of Integration – Aboriginal people entering Australian society on their own terms and preserving as much of their culture as they choose".
It wasn't until 1967 that "91% of Australian voters vote YES in a Referendum to count Aboriginal 
people in the census and give the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal people". This history and the fight for rights for Aboriginal people is still very fresh. To see a brief timeline of Indigenous rights and history click HERE.

It is a broad political issue in Australia and one that many choose to forget. The 'gap' between non-indigenous and indigenous Australians in education and health standards is a national shame. Yes, the government is trying to CLOSE THE GAP and while we are often bombarded with negative statistics, attitudes, comments and images about Aboriginal people, it's NAIDOC WEEK that reminds me how strong and vibrant they really are. They are an intricately unique, beautiful, honest and humble people. They are vast and varied. They deal with dual societies and cultures and generally live for moments rather than merchandise. They captivate me and I understand and identify with them because they became my culture when I was raised away from my own. They are not perfect nor without fault, because none of us are.

I wandered around both celebrations soaking up the beauty. I greeted all the Aunties and Uncles and people that I haven't seen in a while. I hugged my friends and were astounded by their growing tribe of beautiful babies. This place is alive and buzzing with life. Young people getting up and fearlessly telling stories through lyrics and music. Organisations reaching out and connecting. This is a proud and growing community of mine.

Big Love,

Falala Mele